Preamble

The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Kettering Gas Bill (by Order).

Second Reading deferred till Thursday, 3rd March.

Oral Answers to Questions — LEAGUE OF NATIONS (ARTICLE 19).

Mr. MANDER: 1.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any change has taken place in the policy of the Government since the announcement made on 22nd January, 1930, by the rate Foreign Secretary, that the then Government were in favour of Article 19 of the covenant of the League of Nations being made effective use of in appropriate cases?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden): No, Sir.

Mr. THORNE: Can the Under-Secretary say whether any Government connected with the League of Nations has considered the advisability of refusing to supply munitions of war to Japan and China?

Mr. EDEN: That has nothing to do with the question on the Paper.

Oral Answers to Questions — CHINA AND JAPAN.

Mr. MANDER: 2.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the advisability of sending a note to the Chinese and Japanese Governments declaring that this country will in no circumstances recognise any situation or agreement which may be brought about by means contrary to the Covenant of the League of Nations or other
treaty obligations to which it, as well as both Japan and China, are parties?

Mr. COCKS: 9.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will inform the Japanese Government that it does not intend to recognise any situation, treaty, or agreement in respect to China which may be brought about by means contrary to the obligations of the Covenant of the League of Nations, the Nine-Power Treaty of 1922, and the Pact of Paris of 1928, to which covenants and treaties both China and Japan as well as Great Britain, are parties?

Mr. EDEN: I do not think that a further Note on this subject would, even if it were addressed to both parties as suggested by my hon. Friend, serve any useful purpose. His Majesty's Government have already made their position sufficiently clear and the Japanese Government have given definite assurances that they have no territorial ambitions and that they will uphold the principle of the Open Door.

Mr. MANDER: Am I right in assuming that die policy outlined in the question is indeed the policy of the Government?

Mr. EDEN: The hon. Member would be more correct if he assumed that the Government's policy is the policy outlined in my answer.

Mr. COCKS: As a similar note has been addressed to Japan by the United States of America, should we not take our stand by the side of our cousins across the ocean?

Mr. MANDER: 3.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government intend to treat the relations existing between China and Japan as tantamount to a state of war?

Mr. EDEN: There has, up to the present, been no declaration of war, and the attitude of His Majesty's Government in this matter must depend on the way in which the situation develops. No statement can therefore be made at present.

Mr. MANDER: Is it not the case that every country which breaks the Covenant of the League of Nations is automatically at war with every other member of the League?

Mr. EDEN: The hon. Member had better refer to the findings of the Committee of Jurists at the time of the Corfu dispute, Where he will see how the situation stands.

Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE: Is it not deplorable that such mischievous questions as these should be asked?

Mr. MANDER: Is it not deplorable that this war should be allowed to continue?

Mr. COCKS: 6.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the assault on Captain Kennedy, a British subject, Assistant Police Commissioner in the International Settlement, in the Hongkew district on 20th February?

Mr. EDEN: No, Sir. I may add that an account in the Press of another assault on a British subject was found, on inquiry, to have been much exaggerated, and in the absence of any report from His Majesty's Consul-General, I think that the hon. Member may rest assured that the incident can scarcely have been of the grave character suggested.

Mr. COCKS: 8.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information regarding the formation of an independent State of Manchuria during the Japanese military occupation of that province; and whether, seeing that on 8th February His Majesty's Government stated that they regarded Manchuria as being a part of China, and that they had engaged under the Nine-Power Treaty of 1922 to respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial and administrative integrity of China, he is taking any steps in the matter?

Mr. EDEN: According to my information, a declaration of an independent State consisting of the four North-Eastern Provinces of China, was published in Mukden on the 18th of February. An Administrative Council has been formed which is to formulate details of the organisation and constitution of the new Government. As regards the second part of the question, since this declaration has been made by the local Chinese authorities there does not appear to be any ground for action by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom under the Nine-Power Treaty of 1922.

Mr. COCKS: Is it not obvious that this State has been formed by Japan and will His Majesty's Government not take action?

Mr. EDEN: This is not the first State that has been set up in China as an independent State, nor is it the first State since the Nine-Power Treaty set up under the auspices of another Government.

Mr. COCKS: In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX: Can the Under-Secretary say what increase in our armed forces would be necessary if we followed out all these suggestions?

Oral Answers to Questions — CHINESE RAILWAY LOANS (BRITISH INVESTORS).

Captain PETER MACDONALD: 7.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representation and, if so, of what nature has been made by him to the Chinese Government during the present year with regard to the default of payment of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and the Hukuang Railway loans?

Mr. EDEN: I have no information whether such representations have been made in the present year, but no suitable opportunity for pressing the just claims of British creditors of the Chinese Government will be neglected.

Sir WILLIAM DAVISON: What is the reason given by the Chinese Government for this default?

Mr. EDEN: A Note was actually addressed on the subject by our Minister in November, and I am afraid I have no later information.

Captain MACDONALD: Is it the intention of His Majesty's Government to address another Note to the Chinese Government?

Mr. EDEN: I do not think the present is a very opportune moment.

Oral Answers to Questions — DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY.

Mr. DONNER: 5.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number
of individuals with diplomatic immunity attached to the Embassies or Legations in London of the following Powers: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Belgium, Norway, and Sweden?

Mr. EDEN: The following is the number of officials, diplomatic and clerical, attached to the foreign Missions specified by my hon. Friend, and regarded by His Majesty's Government as entitled to claim diplomatic immunity: France, 23; Germany, 26; Italy, 17; Spain, 10; Soviet Union, 20; Belgium, 13; Norway, 5; Sweden, 19. These figures do not include wives and children of the officials concerned, nor domestic servants.

Sir A. KNOX: Is it not the case the Foreign Secretary gave the figure of 36 as the number in the Soviet Embassy?

Mr. EDEN: Perhaps that figure of 36 covered the Trade Delegation.

Oral Answers to Questions — ROYAL NAVY.

Loss OF SUBMARINE M 2.

Mr. GEORGE HALL: 13.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the time of receipt at Fort Blockhouse of the reported absence as overdue of submarine M 2; the name of the officer on duty at Portsmouth Dockyard at that time who had executive control of all measures of rescue work; the nature of the latter's immediate action, if any; on whose authority, and on what grounds, all rescue work was confined to surface craft; whether, in view of the nature of the discretion allowed under King's Regulations in such an emergency to officers commanding and of the known reliability of methods of sound detection for use by submarines in underseas conditions, he can state why such a step was not ordered forthwith by the officer commanding; and whether at the official inquiry this aspect will be particularly inquired into, and opportunity provided for competent engineering and commercial authority other than officers of the Royal Navy, to assist the inquiry on this point?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley): As the reply is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. HALL: Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell me whether the first part of the question will be the subject of particular inquiry?

Lord STANLEY: I think the hon. Member when he reads the answer will find that the specific question to which he refers does not arise. I can give him an assurance that the inquiry will be very comprehensive.

Following is the reply:

His Majesty's Submarine M.2 was exercising from Portland and her Commanding Officer, before leaving Portland, had expressed his intention of carrying out a long endurance dive for the purpose of training the crew. The report from the Captain-in-Charge, Portland, that Submarine M.2 was overdue was made owing to the fact that the M.2 had neither returned to harbour nor been sighted and the "Titania" was unable to establish communication by wireless telegraphy. The report was received at Fort Blockhouse at 7.47 p.m. on 26th January. The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, who is the officer responsible, put into operation forthwith, the measures laid down for such an emergency; these comprise the despatch of salvage craft, minesweeping and anti-submarine vessels and aircraft to the scene of the reported position.

The Captain-in-Charge, Portland—the responsible officer on the spot—at the same time as he made his report to the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, ordered two submarines, minesweeping and antisubmarine craft, all normally stationed at Portland, to sea without waiting for the order from the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, which was received later. The implication in the question that the rescue work was confined to surface craft is thus without foundation as also the suggestion that steps were not taken immediately by the Commanding Officer on the spot. The fullest use was made, moreover, of all methods of detection. The last part of the question accordingly does not arise.

His MAJESTY'S SHIP "RODNEY (STOKER's DISCHARGE).

Mr. G. HALL: 14.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why Leading-stoker
J. W. H. Lee, His Majesty's Ship "Rodney," was dismissed from the service, after 19 years' service, without trial and without pension; and whether, in view of his service, it is possible to grant a modified pension?

Lord STANLEY: This man was one of 24 men discharged "Services no longer required" by order of the Board of Admiralty. The reasons for discharge were stated in this House in the reply which was given to a question by the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 12th November, 1931. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Mr. THORNE: Is it not the case that the late First Lord of the Admiralty said that there would be no penalisation of men at all in connection with this matter?

Lord STANLEY: That is true; and there has been no penalisation.

Mr. HALL: Will my Noble Friend and the Board take into account the special circumstances of these men, and their long service, 19 and 20 years?

Viscountess ASTOR: Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us why certain hon. Members will not allow Communists in their own party, but want them in the Navy?

Mr. THORNE: Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that we do not allow Communists in our organisation?

SUBMARINES (INDICATOR BUOYS).

Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL: 15.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the result of the trials that have been made in His Majesty's Submarine "Rainbow," as regards the indicator buoys for locating the position of submarines that may sink in consequence of an accident?

Lord STANLEY: Trials of the indicator buoy in His Majesty's Submarine "Rainbow" have been carried out and are reported to have been generally satisfactory. The results are now being considered in the Admiralty.

Sir F. HALL: In these circumstances will instructions be given at once to fix something after the style of these buoys on submarines?

Lord STANLEY: There are a few small points which have to be corrected, but the matter is well in hand.

BUILDING PROGRAMME, 1929.

Mr. RALPH BEAUMONT: 17.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made with the ships of the 1929 naval construction programme?

Lord STANLEY: Normal progress has been made on all the vessels of the 1929 programme. Three sloops and a tender to the Mining School have been completed and the remainder are expected to be completed in the next 12 months. Full and detailed particulars will be included in the printed statement to accompany the Navy Estimates, which will be issued in about a week's time.

SURGEONS.

Mr. R. BEAUMONT: 18.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the establishment of naval surgeons is complete; and, if not, What is the deficiency?

Lord STANLEY: The establishment of naval medical officers is not complete, the deficiency at present being approximately 60.

Mr. BEAUMONT: Is it proposed to take any steps to make up that deficiency?

Lord STANLEY: Yes, the whole question of the conditions of service, recruit-merit, etc., in the medical branches of the three Services is under consideration by an inter-Departmental committee.

SEA SERVICE (CAPTAINS).

Mr. R. BEAUMONT: 19.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average amount of sea time already served by captains when appointed to command ships during the year 1931; and what was the corresponding service of captains in 1913?

Lord STANLEY: The average amount of sea time already served by captains in that rank when appointed to command His Majesty's 'ships during 1931 was one year 121 days, and the corresponding service of captains in 1913 was two years 37 days.

BATTLE CRUISER SQUADRON (COMMAND).

Lieut.-Commander BOWER: 20.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the normal period during which an officer
appointed to command the battle cruiser squadron holds this appointment?

Lord STANLEY: It is customary for this and other rear-admirals' appointments to be held for two years. When, however, an officer is promoted to the rank of vice-admiral during the tenure of a rear-admiral's appointment, the question of his retention of the appointment for the full period of two years is specially reviewed.

Lieut.-Commander BOWER: Would the Noble Lord say whether the super-cession of an officer who has only done 10 months in this appointment may be assumed to be the usual normal change of flag appointments, or whether there is some special reason for this change?

Lord STANLEY: No, Sir; every case is reviewed on its merits. We have always to bear in mind the desirability of giving experience to other flag officers of the rank appropriate to the command.

BOYS (TRANSFER TO MEDITERRANEAN STATION).

Mr. LOGAN: 21.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that boys are sent to the Atlantic Fleet and thence transferred to ships of the Mediterranean Station without previous notice and without the granting of leave, as is done in the case of other naval ratings; and whether he will issue instructions that in future boys are to be warned and given notice before being sent on commissions?

Lord STANLEY: It has been a long-established practice to transfer boys from the Atlantic Fleet and the training establishments to the Mediterranean Station in January each year, the boys taking passage in Atlantic Fleet ships. All the boys who were so transferred last month had leave just prior to sailing. The Admiralty already have under consideration whether this system of drafting boys to the Mediterranean shall continue.

Mr. LOGAN: Does it follow that leave will be given to these boys so that they may have a chance of going home?

Lord STANLEY: I have made careful inquiries, and I find that on the last occasion every boy had a minimum of 14 days' leave before he sailed?

SHANGHAI.

Captain NORTH: 22.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any further warships, and, if so, what, are being sent to Shanghai?

Lord STANLEY: No further warships are being sent to Shanghai. It has been arranged, however, for His Majesty's Ship "Berwick," which is due to return shortly to the United Kingdom, to be relieved temporarily by His Majesty's Ship "Devonshire," an 8-inch cruiser from the Mediterranean Station.

ENGINE ROOM ARTIFICERS, ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.

Mr. MUNRO: 16.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons for the recent alterations in the conditions of the annual retaining fee paid to engine-room artificers in the Royal Naval Reserve?

Lord STANLEY: No recent alteration has been made in the Regulations for the payment of retainers to engine-room artificers, Royal Naval Reserve.

Oral Answers to Questions — TRADE AND COMMERCE.

COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES (EXPORT DUTIES).

Mr. ROBINSON: 23.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state in which of the colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories there are export duties in force and in respect of what commodities; and whether, seeing that these duties tend to hinder the export of such commodities to the United Kingdom, he will bring this question before the forthcoming Imperial Conference at Ottawa?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister): The list is a long one, and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I have not received any evidence that export duties in force in any Colony hinder the export of their products to this country. If the question arose with regard to any particular duty, I should take the matter up direct with the Government of the Colony concerned.

Following is the list:

STATEMENT showing the Colonies etc. where export duties are charged and the goods on which such duties are chargeable.

Colony, Protectorate etc.: Goods subject to export duty.

Bahamas.—Slips and suckers of pineapples, sisal plants and wrecked goods.

Bermuda.—Malt liquor, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, alcohol, arrack, brandy, cordials, gin, peppermint water, whisky, rum and wine.

British Honduras.—Mahogany, cedar, logwood, chicle, coconuts, sponges, beer, porter and malted liquor, wine, potable spirits, bitters, cordials and liqueurs.

British Solomon Islands.—Copra, trocas shell and ivory nuts.

Cayman Islands.—Coconuts, spirits, wines and spirituous liquors.

Ceylon.—Cacao, thanks, elephants, tea, and whale oil.

Falkland Islands.—Wool, guano, whale and seal oil.

Federated Malay States.—Coconuts, copra, gambier, rubber, gutta-percha, pepper, sugar, tapioca, fish, various kinds and salted and dried fish, oysters, mother-of-pearl shell and beche-de-mer, various forest products including camphor and kepong bark, gold, tin, tin-ore and tin slag, scheelite, wolfram and all other metals and metalliferous ores, *china clay or Kaolin, *soda and potash felspar, *china-stone, horns, hides, skins, bones and tallow, elephants.

Fiji.—Trocas shell and beche-de-mer.

Gambia.—Ground-nuts.

Gold Coast.—Cocoa, kola nuts, diamonds, mahogany, cedar and Baku.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands.—Copra.

Grenada.—Cocoa, cotton, cotton seed, nutmegs, mace, limes and lime products, whale oil, whale guano.

Jamaica.—Spirits.

Leeward Islands, Antigua.—?Sugar.

*Export prohibited except under licence.

Colony, Protectorate, etc.: Goods subject to export duty.

Dominica.—Horned cattle, bay leaves, essential oils, canoes and canoe shells, citrate of lime, citric acid, cocoa, coffee, charcoal, farina, manioc, fresh fruit including bananas and plantains, grape fruit, limes (green), oranges and tamarinds, fruit preserved including jams and jellies and limes pickled, ginger, hides and skins, lime juice, nuts and kernels including coconuts and copra, starches, syrup, tobacco, turtle-shell, vanilla and wood.

Montserrat.—Animals including asses, cattle, calves, horses, mules, pigs, sheep and goats, bay leaves, cart felloes, naves and spokes, cocoa, coffee, cotton, essential oils, hides and skins, lime juice, limes, molasses, onions, paine, peas, beans, poultry, starches, sugar, syrup and tamarinds.

St. Christopher and Nevis.—Cotton and coconuts.

Virgin Islands.—Animals including horses, asses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and fowls, charcoal, building lime, sweet potatoes, yams and tanniers, bananas, eggs, hides, hard woods, cotton and wreck.

Malta.—Objects having an antiquarian, archaeological or artistic importance.

Mauritius.—Sugar, molasses, aloe fibre, goods exported from bond, excluding rum exports from the Excise Warehouse, goods landed in transit for other ports, excluding goods transhipped direct from vessel to vessel, goods landed from vessels in distress and re-shipped or transhipped.

New Hebrides.—Coffee, cocoa, cotton, copra, sandalwood, trocas and other shells, all other products.

North Borneo.—Agricultural produce including rice, coconuts, copra, sago, tobacco and coconut oil, jungle produce including timber, firewood and beeswax, live stock and animals, sea produce including turtle and fish dried and salted, birds nests, brass-ware, charcoal, hides and skins, ivory, all other goods except those on the free list.

Colony, Protectorate, etc.: Goods subject to export duty.

Nigeria.—Cocoa, groundnuts, palm kernel oil, palm kernels, palm oil, tin and tin ores, wolfram, lead and lead ores, zinc, iron and iron ores, gold, other precious metals, all other minerals.

Northern Rhodesia.—Elephant ivory, hippo teeth and certain game trophies.

Palestine.—Antiquities.

St. Helena.—Fibre and tow.

St. Lucia.—Bay leaves, bay oil, charcoal, cocoa, coconut oil, coconuts, copra, firewood, hard wood, lime products, log wood, molasses and syrup, pimento wood, sugar, whale oil and fish oils.

St. Vincent.—Cotton, cotton linters, cotton seed, arrowroot, starches, cocoa, corn, peas, peanuts, copra, sugar, syrup, molasses, rum, horses, horned cattle, mules, asses, pigs, goats and sheep.

Seychelles.—Guano, mangrove bark, cinnamon bark, whale oil, prepared fertilisers, tortoise shell.

Sierra Leone.—Kola nuts, palm kernels, platinum, gold and other minerals.

Somaliland Protectorate.—Animals, beeswax, birds, bones, charcoal, coffee, condiments, curios, dyes, eggs, fat, feathers, fibre, fish and fish products, ghee, guano, gum resin, gums, hides, ivory, leather, sandals, precious stones, provisions, salt, shell, skins, stone, tallow, wood and timber.

Togoland under British Mandate.—Kola nuts.

Tonga.—Coin, copra and mares. Trinidad.—Asphalt.

Turks and Caicos Islands.—Sisal plants, spirits, wines and spirituous liquors.

IMPORT DUTIES BILL (COLONIES).

Mr. HANNON: 28.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the nature of the replies received from Colonies and Dependencies in response to the cabled message addressed to them following upon the adoption of the Financial Resolutions to the Import Duties Bill by this House?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given
to the hon. Members for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) and Stockport (Mr. Hammersley) on the 10th and 17th instant, of which I am sending him copies. I should add that the Governor of Ceylon has informed me that Ministers intend to propose a resolution in the State Council in favour of the principle of reciprocal preference. I have also received telegrams from the Governor of the Seychelles and the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific intimating that they hope to submit proposals for the introduction of preferential tariffs in areas under their jurisdiction where preference has not hitherto been granted.

Mr. HANNON: Following that very satisfactory reply, can my right hon. Friend say that the gesture made regarding the future relations with Colonial Empire has been general satisfaction?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: universally.

JAMAICA (TRADE COMMISSIONER).

Mr. MACPHERSON: 58.
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can make any statement with regard to the trade commissionership in Jamaica?

Mr. HURD: 59.
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can make a statement as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the representations from Jamaica as to the desirability of retaining the British trade commissionership in that Colony in view of forthcoming inter-imperial trade development?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Hore-Belisha): I am glad to be able to announce that it has been found possible to make arrangements for continuing for the present the office of the Trade Commissioner in Jamaica.

BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR.

Mr. MITCHESON: 60.
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in order to give members of the public who are at work all day an opportunity to visit the British Industries Fair and view the special display of Empire produce, he will make arrangements for the fair to be open to the public later than the present closing hour of 7.30?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA: I will see that my hon. Friend's suggestion is carefully considered in connection with the arrangements for next year's fair. The existing closing hour was settled after careful deliberation in consultation with the exhibitors' advisory committee, and the decision was in accordance with the views of the majority. Exhibitors have signed contracts on the basis of existing hours of closing, and I am afraid in all the circumstances that it would be impracticable to make a change which would involve extra expense now that the fair is running.

FRANCE (BRITISH COAL).

Mr. LAWSON: 61.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make a further statement as to the present position with regard to the removal of the 15 per cent. Surtax oh British coal imported into France?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey).

IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS (AIRTIGHT CONTAINERS).

Mr. JANNER: 62.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the quantities and values of imports from British and foreign countries, respectively, during 1931 of foodstuffs preserved in airtight containers in their several categories?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA: My hon. Friend will find particulars of the imports from British and foreign countries respectively of the various tinned, canned and battled foodstuffs for the year 1930 in Volume II of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for that year. I regret that similar information for the year 1931 is not yet available.

SILK DUTIES.

Mr. LEVY: 68.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fall in the value of raw silk since the Silk Duties were imposed in 1925 from 26s. per pound to 11s. per pound, approximately; if he is aware that the duty of 3s. per pound, which was approximately 11 per cent. in 1925, is now an ad valorem duty of 28 per cent., whereas the duty on the full manufactured
article remains at 33⅓ per cent. ad valorem; and in view of the unemployment in the silk industry, what action he intends to take to amend the Silk Duties?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot): I am aware of the fall in the prices of raw silk since the duties were imposed in 1925. As regards the last part of the question, I am unable to anticipate the Budget statement.

Mr. LEVY: Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that Great Britain is the only country in the world that imposes a tax on the prime raw material of the silk industry?

Major ELLIOT: I have said that I cannot anticipate the Budget statement.

Mr. HANNON: Will the Chancellor, in preparing the Budget, take into account the fact that employment in the silk trade since the imposition of the Silk Duties has fallen from 140,000 to 37,000?

Major ELLIOT: The Silk Association and the British Celanese Company have already sent a request for a revision of the Silk Duties, and this will be taken into consideration.

Mr. THORNE: Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the ad valorem duty includes freight, commission, and insurance?

Major ELLIOT: All these duties are imposed on that basis in this country.

Mr. LEVY: Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that France is at the present moment sending 40 per cent. of her total output into this country?

Oral Answers to Questions — KENYA.

NATIVE'S SUICIDE.

Mr. DAVID GRENFELL: 24.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in Inquest No. 10 of 1930, held at the Rendul magistrates' court at Kisumu, Kenya Colony, it was proved that a European employer had withheld wages for four periods of labour from a Kavirondo Native named Asuna, who was found to have committed suicide after a bullock had been taken away from him for the payment of his cousin's poll tax; and whether action has been taken
by the local government against this employer for withholding wages or what official notice has been taken of this case?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: I have seen the finding of the Court which records that Asuna was owed four tickets by a European employer. Summonses had already been issued against this employer in respect of several claims for wages, but the prosecution was dropped on payment of the amounts due. The verdict of the court does not suggest that Asuna's act was in any way attributable to the delay in the payment of his wages.

EAST AFRICAN POWER AND LIGHTING COMPANY (LAND GRANT).

Mr. D. GRENFELL: 25.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement as to the developments that have taken place regarding the granting of land at the junction of the Maragua and Tana Rivers, in Kenya Colony, to a company for the purpose of a hydro-electric project; whether provision is in contemplation for the 150 Kikuyu families who live on this area of land; and if he is aware that a ford over the river at this point has been closed to the Kikuyu and Komba, people who have used it from time immemorial?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: An arrangement has been arrived at with the consent of the local native council and the Central Native Lands Trust Board for the grant to the East African Power and Lighting Company of an uninhabited area of 3.80 acres in the Fort Hall native reserve, in addition to about 22 acres of Crown Land. The conditions agreed upon include an addition of approximately 20 acres to the native reserve, and provide for the keeping open of the Mathengeta track leading to the Maragua River. I have no information as to the closing of a ford.

Oral Answers to Questions — PALESTINE (LIQUOR LICENCES).

Mr. MALLALIEU: 26.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what authority is responsible for the granting of licences for spirituous liquors in Palestine; and what regulations, if any, are imposed by the Government on the granting of such licences?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: The answer is a rather long one, and, with
the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Licences for the manufacture of spirituous liquors are issued by the Director of Customs after the applicant has obtained a certificate from the police and health authorities. A retail or wholesale dealer in spirituous liquors requires two licences, one of which is issued either by a municipal council or by a District Commissioner, subject to the authorisation of the police authorities, and the other is issued by the Director of Customs. The regulations on this subject are too numerous to summarise within the compass of this reply; but if the hon. Member wishes to see them, I shall be glad to arrange for them to be shown to him.

Oral Answers to Questions — KAVIRONDO (GOLD DISCOVERY).

Colonel WEDGWOOD: 27.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether steps will be taken in connection with the gold discovery in the Northern Kavirondo reserve to retain for the native community the proceeds from rents, licences, and royalties?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER: Rents in respect of surface rights of native communities, and compensation for disturbance of such rights on grants of licences permitting exploitation of minerals, are already protected by law, but fees by way of licences and paid as royalties accrue to the Grown, in whom property in minerals other than common minerals is vested.

Oral Answers to Questions — CYPRUS.

Oral Answers to Questions — MALTA.

Oral Answers to Questions — AVIATION.

GROUND MARKINGS (GASOMETERS).

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRON.

GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

TURKEY (FLYING FACILITIES).

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS, LIMITED (FACILITIES).

Oral Answers to Questions — ROYAL AIR FORCE.

HARLESCOTT DEPOT, SHREWSBURY.

INSTRUMENT FLYING (INSTRUCTION).

Oral Answers to Questions — TRANSPORT.

BRIDGE AND ROAD TOLLS.

HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES (LICENCE DUTY).

HIGHWAYS (DISTURBANCE AND DIVERSION).

TRAFFIC SIGNALS, OXFORD STREET.

LONDON OMNIBUSES (ROUTE BOARDS).

Oral Answers to Questions — CENTRAL ELECTRICITY BOARD.

Oral Answers to Questions — DIVORCE LAW.

Oral Answers to Questions — JUDGES (SALARIES).

Oral Answers to Questions — DOG-RACING TRACKS.

Oral Answers to Questions — INDIA (PRISONERS' ESCAPE).

Oral Answers to Questions — TITHE RENTCHARGE.

Oral Answers to Questions — AGRICULTURE.

IMPORT DUTIES (IRISH FREE STATE).

TRANSIT OF ANIMALS (SHIPPING ACCIDENT).

BACON INDUSTRY (REORGANISATION COMMISSION).

Oral Answers to Questions — SCOTLAND (LAND DRAINAGE).

Oral Answers to Questions — MAINTENANCE ORDERS (IMPRISONMENT FOR DEFAULT).

Oral Answers to Questions — PRISON ADMINISTRATION.

Oral Answers to Questions — RUMANIA (JEWS).

Oral Answers to Questions — FIGHTING SERVICES (MEAT SUPPLIES).

Oral Answers to Questions — QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS.

WAR PENSIONS (AMENDMENT).

BILLS PRESENTED.

WORKS COUNCILS BILL,

RIGHTS OF WAY BILL,

MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.

WORKSOP CORPORATION BILL [Lords].

SELECTION (STANDING COMMITTEES).

STANDING COMMITTEE B.

Orders of the Day — IMPORT DUTIES BILL.

FIRST SCHEDULE.—(Goods exempted from the General ad valorem Duty.)

ADJOURNMENT.